Based out of Tillsonburg and Woodstock, SWA sent a contingent of swimmers to the recent Eastern Canadians and Provincial Championships, some of them for the first time.

"It was a big impact for them," said SWA coach Roman Ramirez. "They did a really good job. I'm proud of how they are doing. Erica (Klosler), Dalton (Sanderson), they went for the first time and they did pretty good times.

"I'm excited – we're building the team. For the first time we had a relay team at the Eastern. And they did a pretty good job (in the senior age division). Really good. It was more than I expected, they made me proud.

"The program is running well and the kids are doing good. They have potential, and to get kids like Dalton in finals at provincials, they can do this."

South Western Aquatics was recognized with the Ontario Provincial Championships 'Small Team Award' and brought home a banner for it, which will be raised at the Tillsonburg Community Centre. A large photo of the banner will also go up in Woodstock.

"The kids said we need to win another banner for Woodstock," said Ramirez.

Roxy Ramirez, 16, competing at the Eastern Canadian Open (Easterns), Feb. 18-21, in Montreal, highlighted her meet by winning a bronze medal in 1500m freestyle, taking almost five seconds off her personal best. She then swam at the Spring Long Course Provincial Championships, March 3-6, in Ottawa.

"It was harder (at Easterns) because the divisions were 15-and-under and 16-and-over, and just one week before I turned 16, so I had to compete with the 16-and-over. So there were 17-year-olds, 18-year-olds..."

But she felt moving up an age bracket also gave her extra motivation.

"It actually does," she nodded. "Competing with older girls just makes me want to win more. I think it was good preparation for the Olympic Trials, because Trials are Open. I will be competing against most of the same girls I competed with at Easterns. It's funny because they were the same I was competing with at provincials – it's always the same girls. I sort of like that because I know what I'm up against."

The Canadian Olympic Trials are April 5-10 at the Pan Am Sports Complex in Toronto. Ramirez was one of the youngest at the Trials for Pan Am Games, and comes into next week's Olympic Trials with a bit more experience.

"I think for this one, for me, it's not so much the Olympic Team. They're are also going to make other Junior Teams, like Pan Pacific. A lot of people want to try to make that. I need a good time – somewhere around the top would be nice. At least the top for 18-and-under, see if I can get on another team."

"She's close," said her coach. "I believe she's positive, excited to make these times."

Amy Meharg, 12, also swam at Easterns and Provincials.

"My best place was (seventh in 1500m free), but I was competing against 15-year-olds," she said, noting it was her first Easterns. "There were only three 12-year-olds in the whole meet."

She also placed eighth in 800m free.

Being one of the youngest, she said, added some pressure.

"I felt like there was a lot of 'high up' swimmers there, national swimmers. But I wasn't expecting to medal, I was just going for times."

At Provincials, Meharg swam in four 13-and-under events (one age group up) and medalled in all of them with three golds.

"Most of them were best times, I think one wasn't (800m free)," she said, noting she was familiar with most of her competition. "It was really nice (winning gold) but the people who were coming second and third, they were some of my close friends from different teams."

For the remainder of the season, Meharg said her goal is 'more Eastern times.'

"Maybe the 100m freestyle, and get some of the faster sprint times instead of focusing so much on the long distance."

Dalton Sanderson, 14, made best times at Provincials in each of his three events – 50m free, 100m fly and 200m fly (17 seconds).

"I was happy with that. Now I'm like one second or less from nationals in my 50 fly, 100 fly and my 200 fly. I can still get them, there's a couple more meets left. I hope I can... if not, next year.

"I'm seeing a lot of improvement in my races, especially in my fly," he noted.

"It was a good meet, I think I had three or four best times. But it was really tough. I got in A finals for my 200 fly and B finals for 400 free and 400 IM, I think.

"It was different," she smiled, "because there were older swimmers there... like the national team. It wasn't like Age Group Nationals. There were people who were like 25 and 32 – one of the ladies was 32. I was a little nervous."

Granger's major goal for the rest of the season is another medal at Age Group Nationals, and to get a Senior National time in 200m fly.

"I think I'm about two seconds, maybe."

Ryan Jensen, 16, didn't make best times at Easterns or Provincials, but was satisfied with both meets.

"At Easterns I did pretty good, I made finals in my 400 IM so I was pretty happy about that," said Jensen, admitting he was a 'pretty nervous' at his first Easterns. "For me, the times are faster to make than (Age Group) Nationals, so that's pretty intimidating. And the pool was pretty big – it was like a hockey arena.

"I felt like I had my race together, there's just a couple of minor tweaks that I have to make to get best times."

Jensen already has two Age Group National times and would like to make a third early in the long course season.

"So I don't have to worry about it later on the season. And get some best times in my best events. And swim some off events, see if I can do good in those."